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The Firstborn Blessing

He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, who He loved. Psalm 47:4

Scripture reveals that those who are the descendants of Abraham by faith (Believers in Christ see Galatians 3:7) receive the firstborn blessing as an inheritance from the Father. This inheritance is revealed through the story of Jacob, the youngest son of Isaac. Isaac is the promised son of Abraham whom God established His covenant of grace through.

The Story of the Firstborn Blessing

Jacob desired the birthright and the blessings of the firstborn and sought it out deceptively. The time had come for Isaac to bless the firstborn. Isaac’s eyes were weak in sight. In order for Jacob to deceive his father, he had to take on the appearance of his brother Esau, whom Isaac loved. Jacob covered his hands and neck with goatskin, for his brother was a hairy man. Then he dressed himself in his brother’s best clothes. When Jacob drew near to his father to serve him the fresh game he requested, Isaac touched his hands and caught the familiar scent of his beloved son.

“Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord had blessed.” Gen 27:27

Isaac was satisfied that this was indeed his beloved son and gave this firstborn blessing:

“May God give you Heaven’s dew and Earth’s richness- And abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed And those who bless you be blessed.”-Gen 27:28-29

See Christ in the Scripture

For us Christ is the beloved firstborn of God and in the story of Jacob it was prophesied that the older will serve the younger. Christ says in Matthew 20:28, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus, the older brother made us the beneficiaries of the firstborn blessing.

God says, “I will appoint Him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the Earth.” –psalm 89:27

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation.” –Col 1:15

“He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead.”-Col 1:18

The Blessing is Yours

Through Christ the firstborn blessing is yours. Unlike Jacob this blessing did not have to be deceptively taken for it was willing given to you by the Father through Christ.

Jesus Says in His Prayer to the Father:

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- I in them and you in me- so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” –John 17:22-23

Whenever we are before the Father, just like Isaac, the Father is blinded to our sin and faults. For Christ presents us Holy in the Father’s sight, without blemish and free from accusation. He doesn’t smell the rot and decay of our sinful nature just the sweet aroma of His beloved Son. This is our boast that, Christ loves us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Because of the firstborn we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ. (Ephesians 5:2, 2Cor 2:15, Col 1:19-22)

We are the beneficiaries of the Firstborn Blessing. Dressed in the righteous robes of Christ and lovingly accepted in the Father’s sight.